How Does Juvederm Get Rid of Facial Lines?
Are you seeing a loss of volume and suppleness in your skin? Are you noticing that the aging process is causing lines on your face, especially around the nose and mouth? Do you wish there were a way to get rid of those lines naturally and effectively, without resorting to time-consuming surgeries like facelifts? The effects of aging are completelynatural, but that doesn’t mean you have to live with them if you don’t want to. At O’Donnell Vein & Laser in Annapolis, MD, we can soften and moderate even severe facial lines with a dermal filler known as Juvederm.
How Does Juvederm Work?
This particulartreatment is just one of many dermal fillers available in today’s cosmetic market. However, it is one of the most widely used and respected because it delivers natural-looking and long-lasting results. The filler operates by restoring your natural levels of hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is a chemical that your skin requires in its effort to retain moisture and maintain a youthful texture.
What Is a Hyaluronic Acid Filler?
Hyaluronic acid fillers work by adding new hyaluronic acid to a patient who needs to increase volume underneath the surface of the skin. Hyaluronic acid is a type ofsugar that exists in the skin of every single person on earth. It is completelynatural, and we are all born with it.
Hyaluronic acid actuallyexists throughout your body, but almost half of it is located in the skin, where it binds to water, helps you heal, and delivers nutrients to areas that most need it.
Binds to Water and Adds Volume to Skin
Because hyaluronic acid binds to water, it makes your skin look fuller and more hydrated. Hyaluronic is very effective at this job, too. It can attract a thousand times its weight in water.
Fillers Replace What Has Been Lost
Unfortunately, as we age, we start tolose this important substance. Our skin retains less water as a result, and we start tosee a decline in skin volume. The problem isn’t just that we lose hyaluronic acid: it’s that we don’t produce enough new hyaluronic acid to take its place. As the amounts begin todecline, the skin’s volume decreases.
This causes the surface to show more wrinkles, and it also makes facial folds like marionette lines and nasolabial folds appear more severe than they otherwise would. When you use a hyaluronic acid filler, a skilled injector can restore this element in your skin in a specific area, leading to more volume and a smoother surface.
How Does Juvederm Get Rid of Facial Lines?
One of the incredible things about this filler is that it is not just one singlesubstance. Rather, it is a whole line of varieties of filler, each of which is finely tuned and formulated to meet the needs of a specific treatment area. As a result, the different types are able to add volume to the thicker skin of the cheeks, subtly shape or fill the lips, and even erase folds on the lower part of the face.
Nasolabial Folds
The first varieties of filler were developed for the purpose of treating nasolabial folds. These folds are sometimes also referred to as “parenthesis lines”, “laugh lines”, or “smile lines”. They start at the lower corners of the nose and run down to the sides of the lips, framing the mouth. In some people, these lines can become deep and rather pronounced.
In treating these folds, the typical varieties of the filler may be Ultra XC or Vollure XC, both of which are designed for facial lines. These are injected along the fold lines, causing the hyaluronic acid to draw water to the area. As the skin under the folds is re-hydrated, the folds are softened and smoothed.
Marionette Lines
These lines are called “marionette lines” because they resemble the lines on the mouth of a puppet. They go from the corners of the mouth all the way downto the chin. In some cases, they can appear quitesevere, but with a targeted injection from one of our medical staff, we can smooth these lines and restore a natural look.
For these lines, Ultra XC and Vollure XC are also the varieties that are most commonly used. For both nasolabial folds and marionette lines, patients will usually experience between 12 and 18 months of high-quality, natural results.
Lines Close to the Mouth
Some lines that are very close to the mouth may become noticeable when the skin loses volume. Volbella XC is a specific variety that can treat these issues as well as help to shape and contour the lips. It typically lasts for around one year and is specially designed for comfortably treating the sensitive area of the lips and mouth.
Treatment Area Around the Cheeks
In addition to treating lines around the lower areas of the face, the filler has a variety called Voluma XC that will address volume loss in the cheeks. Although this does not always include the treatment of lines on the surface of the face, it is possible that sagging or hollow cheeks can lead to increased lines elsewhere on the face, making this a valuable treatment area to consider.
If you wish to restore volume to your cheeks or lift your cheek line, Voluma XC provides up to two years of excellent results. A fuller and more supple cheek may also help lift the skin in a way that leads to a smoother overall look.
What Should You Expect During a Treatment Session?
The treatment itself is veryquick, with sessions typically lasting between 30-60 minutes. An injection into the treatment site will vary based on what the treatment area is and how much of the filler needs to be used.
When you visit our office, you can recline and relax. Our medical staff will take care of administering the filler, which is mixed with an anesthetic for comfort. Afterward, you will be able toresume nearly all your normal activities and even go back to work if so desired.
What Should You Do Before Treatment?
There are fairly few requirements as far as preparing for treatment. In general, patients are advised to avoid alcohol for 24 hours before and after the injection, as alcohol can interfere with the session. In addition, most patients will be asked to avoid aspirin and other similar medications, as they can affect the bloodstream in ways that reduce the treatment’s effectiveness. Certain topical ointments, creams, and skincare treatments may also be listed, although we will make sure you have all the information you need before you go ahead with treatment.
Why Do People Choose This Filler Over Others?
There are a number of reasons that people prefer this treatment over other dermal fillers. There are many options available for consideration, but we find that Juvederm Voluma has several distinct advantages when compared to some other varieties.
Excellent Safety Ratings
Hyaluronic acid fillers rely on a substance that occurs naturally in your skin. It is not a foreign or an artificial substance. Because of this, it’s almost impossible that the treatment would result in a patient having an allergic reaction.
The filler also has a long track record. The original version entered the market in 2006 when the FDA first approved it for use. In the intervening years, millions of patients have had successful treatments with the filler, and the manufacturer Allergan has refined its many specialized formulas.
Quickly, Visible Results
The effects of treatment are visible right away. Patients often report seeing added volume on the same day as their injections. The filler requires a short time to settle but only needs two weeks to reach its ideal results, unlike collagen treatments, which can often take months to achieve this.
Durable Treatment
One of the most popular reasons for getting this filler is the long length oftime that it stays in a patient’s skin. Many fillers may only last for a few months or half a year. In fact, the earliest varieties of Juvederm only delivered results for the first six to nine months. However, as Allergan has improved its formulas, the newest versions of the filler can last between one and two years.
This means that you can enjoy the benefits of younger-looking skin for many months before returning to the office for maintenance treatment.
Effective, Comfortable, and Versatile Treatment
Just as millions of patients have relied on this filler to get results, many practitioners and dermatologists offer the treatment because they know that it can deliver results. It is one of the first dermal fillers suitable for a wide range of skin types, giving it a level of versatility that is not often found. Each version of the filler contains the local anesthetic lidocaine to make sure that the treatment is maximally comfortable. Very few people are unable to get treatment.
Who Shouldn’t Get This Treatment?
Although the filler is suitable for nearly anyone, there are a few exceptions based on safety precautions.
Women Who Are Pregnant or Breastfeeding
To be perfectly clear, there is no evidence that hyaluronic acid fillers pose any threat to children. However, there is not enough research to know with certainty what the effect might be if a woman were to get treatment while pregnant or breastfeeding. Because of this, the treatment is not typically offered in these situations.
Patients Who AreAllergic to the Anesthetic Lidocaine
Allergies to hyaluronic acid are almost impossible, however, there is a small segment of the population that may be allergic to lidocaine. This anesthetic is helpful for making sure that the injection can be delivered smoothly and comfortably, and it is included in every formula. If a patient has allergies to this anesthetic, we may suggest a different treatment option.
Your Aesthetic Personal Consultation
Before we begin a treatment process, we invite you to a one-on-one personal consultation at our office. This is a relaxed meeting that will give us a chance to get to know you and learn about your specific aesthetic goals. During this time, we can make sure that the treatment is right for you. We will go over various topics, such as any medical conditions you may have, medications, and other medical history information.
Contact Us for Your Personal Consultation
Do you want to finally achieve that natural, younger look? Are you ready to get rid of the wrinkles, erase the facial lines, and restore a youthful glow to your face? Now you can, when you contact our office and set up your in-person meeting. We are standing by to help you every step of the way. Contact O’Donnell Vein & Laser in Annapolis, MD for your personal consultation, and start your Juvederm journey today!
